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Newest Comments
on ‘Lone Wolf and Cub’ star shines bright! Watch the Trailers for the ‘Wicked Priest’ collection arriving on Blu-ray in SeptemberMissing the spin off film, Whipmaster: Ballad of Murder? I could have sworn I…
on THE FURIOUS PART II? A sequel to ‘The Furious’ already in the works as producer promises a bigger follow upIn the mainland chinese cut, the villain who killed his wife in the lionsgate…
on Jackie Chan and Tony Leung Ka Fai return for Round 2! ‘The Shadow’s Edge II’ to begin filming in OctoberI liked the first movie until I hated it for being too overstuffed and that t…
on The Bodyguard (2024) ReviewGreat review, as ever, and really glad you're shining a light on these underr…
on James Lew, martial artist, actor and stuntman in films such as ‘Big Trouble in Little China’ and ‘Timecop’, passes away at 73He will be missed. It was awesome to watch almost any action film, and he’d a…
on WTF? Watch the blood-soaked U.S. Trailer for Joko Anwar’s Indonesian martial arts-horror-comedy ‘Ghost in the Cell’fun flick, tho.
on Heaven and Hell | aka Shaolin Hell Gate (1978) ReviewJust saw Heaven and Hell on youtube, and while it's pretty damn strange in so…
on HEAD’d your way! Jimmy Wang Yu’s kung fu classic ‘Master of the Flying Guillotine’ arrives newly restored on Blu-rayAbout freakin time!
on James Lew, martial artist, actor and stuntman in films such as ‘Big Trouble in Little China’ and ‘Timecop’, passes away at 73The Luke Cage guy paid tribute to him. https://www.instagram.com/p/DcbK2ZExau…
on James Lew, martial artist, actor and stuntman in films such as ‘Big Trouble in Little China’ and ‘Timecop’, passes away at 73James Lew was a very influential person in my life. I first discovered him wh…
on THE FURIOUS PART II? A sequel to ‘The Furious’ already in the works as producer promises a bigger follow upWell almost 4 decades ago, there was this little movie about a cop who fights…
on Anybody seen Richie? Okay, wrong movie. But Steven Seagal’s ‘Above the Law’ is coming to 4K Ultra HD this NovemberNoice. Happy Arrow/Toy Robot are releasing Warner Bros action classics. I'm c…
on THE FURIOUS PART II? A sequel to ‘The Furious’ already in the works as producer promises a bigger follow upWhat would even a part 2 be about, literally every bad guy in the first film…
on HEAD’d your way! Jimmy Wang Yu’s kung fu classic ‘Master of the Flying Guillotine’ arrives newly restored on Blu-rayFrank Djeng talks too fast, and with his accent I find him very hard to liste…
on The Fall of Ako Castle | Blu-ray (Eureka)Is this blu-ray available to purchase anywhere in the U.S. in Region A, Regio…
on FURIOUS director Kenji Tanigaki returns to work on Soi Cheang Pou Soi’s ‘Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In’ sequelRaymond Lam said that filming for the sequel has been officially completed (c…
on Second Life | aka Son of a Punch (2024) ReviewDefinitely a good idea! I'll leave the suggestion with our colleague Zack sin…
on The Bodyguard (2024) Reviewi enjoyed this film.
on Heaven and Hell | aka Shaolin Hell Gate (1978) Reviewi'm glad i'm not the only person that thought Chang Cheh (and possibly others…
Category Archives: Chinese
Guns of Dragon (1993) Review
Director: Tony Leung Siu Hung Cast: Ray Lui, Bill Lui Cho Hung, Mark Cheng, Patrick Lung Kong, Yvonne Yung Hung, Jackson Lau, John Sham, Tse Ning, Alex Fong, Henry Fong Ping Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall During the early 90’s there was a spate of Hong Kong movies that were shot on location in either the US or Canada, perhaps an indication of directors assessing the feasibility of … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Alex Fong Chung Sun, Jackson Lau Hok Yin, John Sham, Mark Cheng Ho Nam, Ray Lui Leung Wai, Tony Leung Siu Hung
Final Run (1989) Review
Director: Philip Ko Fei Cast: Michael Miu, Cheung Kwok-Keung, Simon Yam, Phillip Ko Fei, Francis Ng, Daan Gwai-Chi, Yukari Oshima, Ridley Tsui, Dick Wei, Newton Lai, Ha Chi-Chun, Ricky Wong, Shum Wai, Mark Houghton, Suen Kwok-Ming Running Time: 79 min. By Paul Bramhall When discussing kung fu cinema, chances are it’ll never take too long before the name Philip Ko Fei comes up. One of the greatest screen fighters of … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Dick Wei, Francis Ng, Leung Kar-Yan (Beardy), Mark Houghton, Michael Miu Kiu Wai, Philip Ko Fei, Simon Yam, Yukari Oshima
Holy Virgin Versus the Evil Dead, The (1991) Review
Director: Tony Lou Chun-Ku Cast: Donnie Yen, Pauline Yeung, Ben Lam Kwok-Bun, Chui Hei-Man, Kathy Chow, Ken Lo, Robert Mak Tak-Law, Hsu Hsia, Sibelle Hu Hui-Chung, Lee Ho-Kwan Running Time: 92 min. By Paul Bramhall When people ask what it is about Donnie Yen that sets him apart from his peers, you’re likely to get a multitude of answers. Some may refer to the way he’s stayed relevant as an … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Ben Lam Kwok Bun, Donnie Yen, Hsu Hsia, Kathy Chow Hoi Mei, Ken Lo, Robert Mak Tak-Law, Sibelle Hu, Tony Lou Chun-Ku
Hand Rolled Cigarette (2021) Review
Director: Kelvin Chan Cast: Gordon Lam, Bipin Karma, Michael Ning, Singh Hartihan Bitto, Ben Yuen, Chin Siu-Ho, To Yin-Gor, Tony Ho Wah-Chiu, Tommy Chu Pak-Houg, Tai Bo Running Time: 110 min. By Paul Bramhall From an audience perspective, the Hong Kong crime genre has been extinct since at least the mid-2010’s, with the last production to truly deliver a slice of uncompromising (re: disregarding Mainland censorship requirements) HK cinema being … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, Reviews
Tagged Bipin Karma, Chin Siu Ho, Gordon Lam, Kelvin Chan, Singh Hartihan Bitto
Dragon Blood | aka John Liu In Mexico (1982) Review
Director: John Liu Cast: John Liu, Phillip Ko Fei, Roger Paschy, Cyrielle Claire, Guy Ignace, Godfrey Ho, Lucien Michaud Running Time: 91 min. By Paul Bramhall Dragon Blood can be considered to be superkicker John Liu’s last hurrah, both in front of the camera and behind it, pulling star and director duties for a third time after Zen Kwun Do Strikes in Paris and Ninja In the Claws of the … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Godfrey Ho, John Liu, Philip Ko Fei
Ninja in the Claws of the CIA | aka Kung Fu Emanuelle (1981) Review
AKA: Made in China Director: John Liu Cast: John Liu, Casanova Wong, Danny Lee, John Ladalski, Roger Paschy, Mirta Miller, Cheng Bik-Lin, Gam Biu, Raquel Evans, Jose Maria Blanco Running Time: 77 min. By Paul Bramhall It’s always interesting when kung fu stars decide to step into the director’s chair and helm their own starring vehicles, from the globe-trotting adventures of Bruce Le in the likes of Challenge of the Tiger … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Ninja, Reviews
Tagged Casanova Wong (Ka Sa Fa), Danny Lee Sau Yin, John Ladalski, John Liu, Roger Paschy
Challenge of the Tiger (1982) Review
AKA: Gymkata Killer Director: Bruce Le Starring: Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Richard Harrison, Nadiuska, Hwang Jang-lee, Kong Do, Bolo Yeung Sze, Brad Harris, Dick Randall, Pei Ju-Hua Running Time: 86 min. By Ian Whittle (Note: Every online source I’ve seen says this film is from 1980, which is contradicted by 1982 being mentioned in the dialogue, and a sequence taking place at an event that took place in that … Continue reading
Posted in All, Bruceploitation, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Bolo Yeung (Yang Sze), Bruce Le (Huang Kin Long), Hwang Jang Lee, Kong Do, Richard Harrison
Schemes in Antiques (2021) Review
Director: Derek Kwok Cast: Lei Jiayin, Li Xian, Xin Zhilei, Ge You, Qin Yan, Qingxiang Wang, Yong Mei, Tao Guo Running Time: 123 min. By Paul Bramhall Movies about antiques may not necessarily sound like the most exciting proposition on paper, but if there’s one thing that 2003’s Ong Bak taught us, it’s that if the antique in question is a buddha’s head, then prepare for your expectations to be subverted. 18 years later, and China has released … Continue reading
Kung Fu Vs. Acrobatic (1990) Review
Director: Taylor Wong Tai Loy Cast: Andy Lau, Nat Chan Pak Cheung, Yuen Wah, Joey Wong, Cutie Mui Siu Wai, Lau Shun, Walter Tso Tat Wah, Chen Jing, San Kuai, Lee Hang, Mama Hung Running Time: 99 min. By Paul Bramhall Kung Fu Vs. Acrobatic is one of those movies that I remember constantly reading about back when I was first getting into the genre in the late 90’s and early … Continue reading
Posted in Chinese, Reviews
Tagged Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Cutie Mui Siu Wai, Joey Wong Cho-Yin, Taylor Wong Tai Loy, Yuen Wah
Ghost Hill, The (1971) Review
Director: Ding Sin Saai Cast: Tin Peng, Polly Shang-Kwan Ling Feng, Tong Wai, Go Ming, Chan Bo Leung, Shan Mao, Goo Liu Sek, Sit Hon, Man Chung San, Miu Tin, Lung Fei Running Time: 90 min. By Paul Bramhall In 1971 the wuxia genre was still very much steeped in the conventions of the previous decade, however it was also becoming apparent that certain directors were gradually starting to explore those … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Ding Sin Saai, Lung Fei, Polly Shang-Kwan, Tin Peng, Tong Wai
Journey to the West | aka Go West to Subdue Demons (1991) Review
Director: Chang Cheh Cast: Tung Chi Hwa, Ku Wing-Chuen, Mu Li-Xin, Du Yu-Ming, Yu Jia, Chen Ji-Ming, Zhang Ke-Peng, Yao Yu, Wang Xiang-Wei, Wang Bing-Qiang, Chen Bing Running Time: 86 min. By Paul Bramhall During the 2010’s the only character more popular than Ip Man was arguably the Monkey King. The iconic character got various big budget incarnations courtesy of Soi Cheang’s Monkey King trilogy, Stephen Chow’s pair of Journey … Continue reading
World of Drunken Master, The (1979) Review
Director: Joseph Kuo Cast: Jack Long, Lee I Min, Chan Wai Lau, Lung Fei, Jeannie Chang Wing Wing, Lung Tien Hsiang, Yu Chung Chiu, Mark Long Kwan Wu, Simon Yuen Siu Tien Running Time: 88 min. By Martin Sandison Around two weeks ago, I received Eureka’s Joseph Kuo boxset through the mail. I know a lot of you readers have received it too. In these heady days of incredible releases, … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Jack Long, Joseph Kuo, Lee Yi Min, Lung Fei, Simon Yuen
Ninja Condors (1987) Review
Director: James Wu Cast: Alexander Lo Rei, Stuart Hugh, Richard Phillips, Mick Murray, Eugene Thomas, Lu Feng, Jack Long Shi-Chia, Li Hai-Hsing, Wang Te-Sheng Running Time: 89 min. By Paul Bramhall When it comes to 1980’s kung fu cinema, there were 2 areas that Taiwan excelled at – the kids kung fu flick, and ninjas! The latter became synonymous with the talented Alexander Lo Rei, who came to headline the … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Ninja, Reviews
Tagged Alexander Lo Rei, Eugene Thomas, Jack Long, James Wu, Lu Feng (Centipede)
Daggers 8 (1980) Review
Director: Cheung Sam Co-director: Wilson Tong Starring: Meng Yuen-man, Wilson Tong, Lily Li, Peter Chan Lung, Alan Chui, Cheng Hong-yip, Chan Ming-Wai, Chen Yu-Wei, Billy Chan Wui-Ngai, Yeung Wah Running Time: 90 min. By Ian Whittle What starts out as another kung fu comedy with slightly too irritating Dean Shek style tomfoolery suddenly turns into something much more complex and intelligent. Meng Yuen-man (The Master Strikes) plays an impulsive kung … Continue reading
Posted in All, Chinese, News, Reviews
Tagged Billy Chan Wui Ngai, Lily Li Li-Li, Meng Yuen Man, Peter Chan Lung, Wilson Tong Wai-Shing
Cliff Walkers (2021) Review
Director: Zhang Yimou Cast: Zhang Yi, Qin Hailu, Ni Dahong, Zhu Yawen, Yu Hewei, Lei Jiayin, Liu Hao Cun, Yu Ailei Running Time: 125 min. By Paul Bramhall As one of China’s most highly regarded fifth generation filmmakers it seemed like Zhang Yimou was impervious to the increasingly strict censorship laws that the government has imposed on its cinematic offerings in recent years. However in 2019 we learnt that not even a … Continue reading
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